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Serving
the Minority Community Since 1995 vol 11 issue 16 |
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09/2005 |
Spartan Report
With lopsided victories over two average opponents under their belts, Michigan State University is busy preparing to Notre Dame in what will be its first real test of the football season. And no one is busier than Jehuu Caulcrick.
The 6-0 245-pound running back with the infectious smile ran for 229 yards in the first two outings, and he’ll need a similar performance on Saturday if the Spartans are going to make the grade. He’s likely to bear the brunt of the rushing load as he steps in as a starter in place of senior Jason Teague who has been suspended indefinitely for an off-the –field infraction. (The suspension has nothing to do with Teague’s earlier legal problems stemming from an accusation that he assaulted a young woman earlier this year).
The Fighting Irish have matched MSU’s 2-0 start, and they’ve done it against much tougher competition (Pittsburgh 42-21; Michigan 17-10) both ranked. Head coach, John L. Smith and MSU fans are on edge as they wait to see how the Spartans perform when faced with a major college opponent that can defend and run the ball. Noting that the Irish have great personnel and have been playing with tremendous confidence under new head coach Charlie Weis, Smith said that the game will indicate where the Spartans really are in their development as a team.
They’ve got nine or 10 starters back, they’re very athletic and they will try to run the ball Smith told reporters, pointing out that neither Kent State (downed 49-14) nor Hawaii (topped 42-14) tried to run the ball against the Spartans. Kent State rushed only 15 times and Hawaii only 28 for a total of 137 yards in the two games. The Spartan rush defense has not been seriously tested.
Notre Dame, on the other hand, boasts a balanced attack that has averaged 189.5 yards rushing and 183 passing thus far. “These guys, they can line up and do it all,” Smith said, “So it’ll be interesting to see if we can line up and stop the run. We haven’t been tested against the run."
“This one is a key for us. We really get to find out if we’re worth a hoot or not."
Generating a ground game of their own is as important for the Spartans as controlling the Irish runners, and that’s where Caulcrick comes in.
Caulcrick got his first start as a Spartan against Hawaii and rushed for 91 yards in 20 carries. He’ll need to duplicate the performance against the Irish to give MSU the balance needed to win. He appears ready for the challenge.
A bruising power runner, the sophomore has shown surprising speed, and balance, scampering 40 yards to set up a score against Kent State. He finished that contest with 140 yards and three touchdowns on 10 carries. He’s using his blockers better this season and working to run with more leverage.
“I look at films from last year and I’ll be running straight up,” Caulcrick said.
“I’m focused on getting my shoulders lower.”
“When he runs with leverage he’s a load,” said running backs coach Ben Sermons.
He should get plenty of rushing help from Javon Ringer. Ringer thrilled Spartan fans with an 84-yard three-touchdown breakout performance against Hawaii. The 5-9 185-pound true freshman sandwiched a 41-yard scoring beauty between scoring runs of eight and 15 yards.
If the Spartans manage to squeeze their fifth straight South Bend victory it could mark the beginning of a beautiful season.
“They make you work for everything,” Smith said of Notre Dame, “There are no gifts.”
A win Saturday could mean that Smith’s third group of Spartans won’t be needing many.
Brian Ferguson Remembered
He brought joy!
That was Brian Ferguson’s stock and trade.
And when he died just before Labor Day following a lengthy battle with cancer, Lansing lost more than a sports legend. We lost a constant source of joy and happiness.
Brian spread smiles.
For most of us it began on the basketball court where he thrilled area fans helping Sexton to back-to-back state class A championships in 1959 and 1960. Twice inducted in the Greater Lansing Hall of Fame, (as a member of state championship team and individually) he is considered one of the best basketball players ever to come out of the city.
He started at center on the ’59 team and moved to his natural guard spot the next year. He was all-state in ’60 and ’61 before playing college ball at St. Louis and Northern Michigan University and briefly with the Chicago Bulls. He had great quickness and range with a knack for getting to loose balls and open spots on the court you thought weren’t possible. He set season and career scoring records at Sexton.
When he returned to Lansing following his stint in the NBA he took to the tennis courts and won many area tournaments. He became a legend in the local parks, taking on all comers, giving them a choice of him using either his right hand or left, and almost always winning.
But it is for his work with young athletes that I’ll remember him most and the smiles he shared. For more than 30 years he coached youth basketball and baseball, and taught tennis. His teams were always competitive and played hard, but what was most important they always had fun.
And Brian was always there for them, long after they had moved on to high school and beyond. He could be found all over town attending key high school games. Usually there was a player or two he called “his kid.”
“His kids,” had either played on one of his teams or he had tutored them in one of the city’s parks of gyms. He was like that. He’d stop at a park and watch kids play. Soon you’d see him with the kid off to the side showing him a move or giving him a ball handling drill.
He gave private tennis lessons, but he was just as likely to be found teaching kids at a park just because he was there. And he spread smiles.
He was a stand-up comic and performed at local clubs. I never saw him in a club, but I saw his act in little pieces because anytime you saw him he had a new joke or a cartoon he had clipped from a newspaper or magazine to share. When you sat with him at a game, he always punctuated the action with jokes and quips that clearly came from his club material – or should have. No matter how the game went, you always left with a smile – or a belly laugh. He left us a lion’s share fond of memories and smiles with his jokes and performances on the basketball and tennis courts.
He brought joy!
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